Category Archives: Entertainment

Punjabi Giddha dance competition

Perhaps nowhere even in urban Punjab would you see such a fervor for the local folk dance Giddha as you would see in the Bay Area.
Six local Giddha teams get together with teams from LA, DC, Dallas and Seattle to participate in the 2nd Annual West Coast
Giddha Competition
. This competition is an opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate the beauty and spirit of the Punjabi culture. This event serves as a night to celebrate the rich tradition of Giddha and Punjab.
The competition this year will take place on May 22, 2010 at 6:00 P.M. at the state-of-the-art Castro Valley Center for the
Arts in Castro Valley, CA. This year about 20-25 teams could be submitting applications for the competition. Months of preparation, long practices, and devotion make the competition highly competitive.

Saturday May 22, 2010
5:00 PM
Castro Valley Center of Arts
19501 Redwood Road, Castro Valley CA 94546
Parking is available next to the theatre.

There is unfortunately a $20 ticket to the event; However the Tor Punjaban Di™ II Committee claims that it will also use portions of the proceeds from the event to help fund youth events and organizations, aiming to promote education and awareness of the Punjabi culture via music and dance. As well they have already pledged to financially assist out of state teams that qualify for the competition. Tickets will be sold at locations throughout the Bay Area.

Giddha is a popular folk dance of women in Punjab and exhibits teasing, fun and exuberance of Punjabi life. The dance is derived from the ancient ring dance and is just as energetic as Bhangra and at the same time it manages to creatively display feminine grace, elegance and elasticity. Giddha is essentially danced in circles. Girls form rings and one of the dancers sit in the centre of this ring with a dholki (drum).

The vitality of Bhangra can also be seen in the Giddha dance of the women of Punjab. This dance translates into gestures, bolian-verses of different length satirizing politics. The dancers enact verses called bolis, which represent folk poetry at its best. The subject matter of these bolis is wide ranging indeed – everything from arguments with the sister-in-law to political affairs figure in these lively songs – bolis can also cover themes from nature to excesses committed by the husband and his relatives, some talk about love affairs to the loneliness of a bride separated from her groom.

No musical instruments except perhaps a dholak accompanies Giddha and provides the rhythm for the dance. The distinctive hand-claps of the dancers is a prominent feature of this art-form. Giddha is a very vigorous folk dance and like other such dances of Northern India is taxing on the legs of the artists. (from Sikhwiki)

Some pictures of the event from last year (copyright G&H Studio)

Giddha - Bay Area Competition - Punjabi Dance
Giddha - Bay Area Competition - Punjabi Dance
Giddha - Bay Area Competition - Punjabi Dance
Giddha - Bay Area Competition - Punjabi Dance

Basant Kites Festivals in Bay Area

Spring! It’s that time of the year when India and Indians everywhere come alive in a riot of vivacious colors to herald spring! As India is a country of diverse cultures there are many varied festivals to celebrate the arrival of spring in the different parts of the country! Basically most festivals have a religious fervor to it and are symbolic of victory of good over evil !
Holi, and then Basant Panchami.
During spring in the northern states of Haryana and Punjab, the mustard fields are in full bloom and resembles yellow carpets laid out on acres of land . Hence, yellow is the color of the festival and people wear yellow clothes and fly yellow kites on the rooftops after a religious ceremony dedicated to the Goddess of learning! People fly kites in the nights as well using searchlights!
The spring festival Uttarayan of Gujarat in north India falls at a time ,when the sun and the wind flow ,is favorable for flying kites!

In the Bay Area, there are at least two festivals being celebrated.

Basant Kite Festival, Baylands Park in Sunnyvale, Sunday, May 16, 2010
“We are gearing up for the Basant Kite Festival. This year for the very first time we will be celebrating this cultural tradition, common in India and Pakistan, by bringing the Silicon Valley Pakistani and Indian communities together. Every year at this event we fly desi kites, have a kite flying competition, music program at the center stage, dancing (bhangra and others), children games and activities, vendor booths and stalls, food booths, etc.”

Basant Kites Festival Sunnyvale 2010
Basant ites Festival Sunnyvale 2010

Kids ‘n Kites Festival, Central Park, Fremont, Saturday, May 15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The City of Fremont Parks and Recreation Department is holding its annual Kids ‘n Kites Festival on Saturday, May 15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The festival, presented by American Swim Academy, is located within Central Park, next to Aqua Adventure Waterpark.

The festival is free to the public, and includes free kites to the first 2,500 children in attendance. There will be live entertainment on the main stage, interactive booths highlighting summer activities, play area for the kids, food, and more. The festival has something fun for everyone!

Kids N Kites Festival Fremont 2010
Kids N Kites Festival Fremont 2010

Baisakhi Mela 2010 in Concord

Baisakhi Mela 2010 or 7th Annual Diversity Spring Festival will be held on Saturday May 01 2010 at the Todos Santos Park Plaza in downtown Concord from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The mela will feature dances, and programs for children.
May 1st 2010 10:00am to 5:00pm
Free Entry & Food
Todos Santos Park Plaza
Downtown Concord
California 94520
(off of Willow Pass Rd. Corner to Grant St.)
Presented By: South Asian Behavioral Health and Training Foundation – SABH CENTER.
A Non-Profit California agency providing residential & mental health services to mentally & developmentally disabled, new immigrants & seniors
The festival is sponsored by the Therapeutic Residential Services, and the Federation of Inod-American Association of Northern California.

Baisakhi Mela 2010 or 7th Annual Diversity Spring Festival will be held on Saturday May 01 2010 at the Todos Santos Park Plaza in downtown Concord from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The mela will feature dances, and programs for children.

  • May 1st 2010 10:00am to 5:00pm
  • Free Entry & Food

Todos Santos Park Plaza

Downtown Concord

California 94520

(off of Willow Pass Rd. Corner to Grant St.)

Presented By: South Asian Behavioral Health and Training Foundation – SABH CENTER.

A Non-Profit California agency providing residential & mental health services to mentally & developmentally disabled, new immigrants & seniors

The festival is sponsored by the Therapeutic Residential Services, and the Federation of Inod-American Association of Northern California.




Holi celebration in Dublin, San Ramon, Pleasanton Mar 7, 2010

Holi kab hai…Kab hai holi…?!

For the second year, the Tri Valley India Association is organizing the Festival of Colors ‘Holi Dhamal’  in the Dublin, Pleasanton, San Ramon area. The Holi itself is on Mar 01 (Monday) as per holifestival.org and is being celebrated widely in the San Fransisco Bay Area.

  • When: Mar 7th, 2010 (Sunday)
  • Location: Emerald Glen Park, Dublin, CA (Use 4201 Central Parkway, Dublin CA – 94568 for GPS/Online directions)
  • Time: 11:00pm – 2:00 pm
  • Cost: Adults $7; Kids (4 -12 yrs):$5; Kids 4 and under: Free; Group of 10 of more -Adult $5; Group of 10 or more – Kids $4  (Apparently Cost includes  colors)

No water guns allowed

Email [email protected] for tickets or more Info

Tickets Available At:

  • Kamal Spices (Pleasanton) – 6700 Santa Rita Road Pleasanton, CA 94588-3467 (925) 227-1600
  • New India Bazaar (Dublin) – 4552 Dublin Boulevard Dublin, CA 94568-7564 (925) 875-1692
  • New India Plaza (Dublin) – 6040 Dougherty Rd (at Houston Pl) Dublin, CA 94568 (925) 829-9950
  • ONLINE at https://www.sulekha.com/ticketsV3/buytickets.aspx?cid=588997
Holi - Festival of Colors Celebration 2010 - at Emerald Glen Park, Dublin CA (Pleasanton San Ramon Livermore Danville - Bay Area)
Holi - Festival of Colors Celebration 2010 - at Emerald Glen Park, Dublin CA (Pleasanton San Ramon Livermore Danville - Bay Area)

Map:

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Career Neworking Group in San Ramon

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WinCareerNetwork/

This group is primarily for people living in the San Ramon, Dublin & Pleasanton areas which include large communities like Windemere and Gale Ranch. The primary purpose is to provide a forum for people to meet other like-minded individuals face-to-face in a friendly environment and foster career-oriented professional networking..

This Group will help those who want to improve their careers as well as those who are looking for work.. Topics of discussion include, typical interview questions/answers, technical discussions, presentations, work-place issues, job sectors etc.Occasionally, we have guest speakers as well.
The members also notify the group of important career oriented topics, seminars, networking opportunities that they become aware of, from time to time.

If you are interested or if you think you can contribute something to this group, please let us know…This is a voluntary and non-profit activity and all programs are free to the participants.

India Republic Day 2010 Celebrations

India Republic Day (January 26) Celebrations will be on Sunday, January 31, 2010 at 6:00 PM at Newark Pavilion, 6430 Thornton Ave., Newark, CA 94560. There will be a cultural program, patriotic songs, followed by dinner with invited guests.
Contacts: www.fiaonline.org or 51O-938-8668.

Also announced are the 18th Festival of India and Parade Celebrations on Saturday, August 14 and Sunday, August 15, 2010 at 39439 Paseo Padre Parkway, Fremont (Corner of Paseo Padre and Walnut Ave – same location as previous years).

Organized by Federation of Indo Americans of Northern California.

india-republic-day-2010-bay-area

Desi Indian New Year Parties 2010

No, the Trivalley area still does not have the critical mass of Desis to successfully host a party on its own. Private get-togethers for sure, but not the kinds where an entrepreneur can take initiative to put some classy entertainment together, book a party place, and take the risk of selling enough tickets.

But its apparent that almost all the better known Bay Area desi spots will have one or more parties being thrown together. Works for families and groups, and partners and singles. A DJ and dance floor is apparently the minimum denominator; some of the higher end ones have a celebrity or two visiting as well.

This year can drive to Fremont, Milpitas, Sunnywale, Newark, San Jose, Concord, or even Sacramento! In the coming year or two, hopefully we will see a party right here in San Ramon, Dublin or Pleasanton.

Leave behind 2009 in style, enjoy the evening and entertain yourself!
Here is a quick list of what events are scheduled in the Bay Area to welcome the new year 2010:

Holiday Inn – San Jose
http://www.bollywoodcool.com/
New Year 2010 Program Highlight: Dance Performance by Kashmera Shah and Stand-up Comedy
General Tickets – $75.00

Santa Clara Convention Center, Santa Clara
www.tigerfest2010.info
New Year 2010 Program Highlight: Performance by Upen Patel , Celebrity Fashion Show
Minimum $75.00

Diamond Palace , Fremont
www.shindalivenye.com
New Year 2010 Program Highlight: Sukshinder Shinda, Micki Narula
Tickets $99

India Community Center , Milpitas
www.indiacc.org
New Year 2010 Program Highlight: Stand-Up Comedy, Dance
Tickets $79

The Diamond Palace, Fremont
510-453-1521
New Year 2010 Program Highlight: Andhra Dance, Telugu DJ, Tambola
General Tickets – $59.00

City Beach, Fremont
www.desinewyearparty.com
New Year 2010 Program Highlight: Akhil Tatreja DJ and Remix
General Tickets – $69.00

Udupi Palace, Newark
510-794-8400
General Tickets – $25.00
New Year 2010 Program Highlight: DJ – AR Rahman Beats

Hilton Concord Hotel, Concord
925-888-4392
New Year 2010 Program Highlight: Live Band, DJ, Professional Photographer
General Tickets – $65.00

Hilton Hotel, Sacramento
916-772-7555
New Year 2010 Program Highlight: Multiple Ball Rooms, DJs
General Tickets – $65.00

Sneha – Banquet Hall, Sunnyvale
New Year 2010 Program Highlight: DJ, Dance
Tickets $50

Happy New Year!